Discontinuation of Secondary Prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia in Human Immunodeficiency Virus—Infected Patients: A Randomized Trial by the CIOP Study Group

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 36; no. 5; pp. 645 - 651
• Main Authors: Mussini, Cristina, Pezzotti, Patrizio, Antinori, Andrea, Borghi, Vanni, d'Arminio Monforte, Antonella, Govoni, Alessandra, De Luca, Andrea, Ammassari, Adriana, Mongiardo, Nicola, Cerri, Maria Chiara, Bedini, Andrea, Beltrami, Cristina, Ursitti, Maria Alessandra, Bini, Teresa, Cossarizza, Andrea, Esposito, Roberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.03.2003; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; AIDS; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - immunology; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - microbiology; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - prevention & control; Antifungal Agents - administration & dosage; Antifungal Agents - therapeutic use; Antiretrovirals; Biological and medical sciences; Chemoprevention; Drug Administration Schedule; Experimentation; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Highly active antiretroviral therapy; HIV; HIV infections; HIV Infections - microbiology; HIV/AIDS; Human viral diseases; Humans; Incidence; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Opportunistic infections; Pneumocystis pneumonia; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis - immunology; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis - prevention & control; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Viruses; Human; Immunopathology; Lung disease; Opportunistic infection; Chemoprophylaxis; Interruption; Pneumonia; Prognosis; Mycosis; Respiratory disease; Pneumocystis carinii; AIDS; Immune deficiency; Fungi; Infection; Prevention; Antifungal agent; Viral disease; Complication; Fungi Imperfecti; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1086/367659

To evaluate whether bacterial vaginosis predicts the acquisition of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), we studied 255 nonpregnant female subjects aged 15–30 who reported recent sexual contact with a male partner in whom either gonococcal or chlamydial urethritis or nongonococcal urethritis was diagnosed. Compared to subjects with normal vaginal flora, subjects with bacterial vaginosis were more likely to test positive for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (odds ratio [OR], 4.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7–9.7) and Chlamydia trachomatis (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.5–7.8). Subjects colonized vaginally by hydrogen peroxide–producing lactobacilli were less likely to receive a diagnosis of chlamydial infection or gonorrhea than subjects without such lactobacilli. Bacterial vaginosis was a strong predictor of gonorrhea and chlamydial infection among subjects who reported recent exposure to a male partner with urethritis. These data support the importance of vaginal flora in the defense against STD acquisition.